Two
of our surface vessels received minor damage from near bomb misses.

Eleven
American aircraft failed to return from the attack.Our total personnel losses are not yet known, but are believed to
have been slight.

There
is nothing to report from other areas.

No.
37
FEBRUARY 3, 1942

The
Navy Department issued the following communiqué on the naval situation based on
reports up to 5 p. m. (e. s. t.) today:

1.
A motor torpedo boat of Admiral Hart's Far Eastern Command is believed to have
torpedoed an enemy warship in night action inside Manila Bay.Although under heavy fire of the warship's
guns and in the full glare of her searchlights, the motor torpedo boat managed
to fire two torpedoes and to survive the action without being hit.

25

2.
A naval battalion composed of bluejackets and marines has been organized and is
fighting on Bataan Peninsula with General MacArthur's command.

3.
The U. S. S. Neches, a naval tanker, has been torpedoed and sunk by an
enemy submarine.One hundred and
twenty-six members of the crew have reached port safely.Fifty-six men are as yet unaccounted for.

No.
38
FEBRUARY 7, 1942

The
Navy Department today issued the following communiqué, outlining the naval
situation as of noon (e. s. t.) February 7, 1942:

Far
East.

The
following new naval commands have been established to take effect immediately:

1.
Forces which formerly constituted the Asiatic Fleet are now known as the U. S.
Naval Forces, Southwest Pacific.Vice
Admiral William A. Glassford, Jr., U. S. Navy, commands these forces.

3.
Combined Naval Forces of the Australian-New Zealand Area have been established
with Vice Admiral Herbert F. Leary, U. S. Navy, in command.His title is Commander Anzac Forces.

Atlantic
Area.

Axis
submarines continue to operate over a wide area in the Atlantic Ocean,
including the coastal waters of the United States. Their attacks on Allied merchant shipping are being combated
vigorously with increasing success by our forces.

No.
39
FEBRUARY 12, 1942

(For
release morning papers, Friday, February 13, 1942)

The
Navy Department issued the following communiqué today:

Central
Pacific.

On
February 1, 1942, the Navy Department announced that units of the United States
Pacific Fleet had made surprise attacks on Japanese naval and air bases in the
Marshall and Gilbert Islands.The
results of these attacks are now available.

26

On
January 31, 1942, Vice Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr., in command of a
well-balanced force of aircraft carriers, cruisers and destroyers raided the
Japanese strongholds on Roi, Kwajalein, Wotje, Taroa, and Jaluit Islands of the
Marshall group and Makin Island in the Gilbert group.

The
results of these separate actions follow:

Roi
Island.

On
this island of the Kwajalein Atoll a well-equipped air base was located with 12
fighter planes and several bombers.Two
hangars, an ammunition dump, all fuel storage, all other storage and
warehouses, a radio building, and 3 fighter planes and 6 scout bombers in the
air, in addition to 1 bomber on the ground, were destroyed.

No
planes were found on the Wotje Atoll.There were present, however, 9 vessels of various categories in the
harbor. 4 cargo vessels of about 5,000 tons each were destroyed in addition to
three smaller ships.The entire shore
installation consisting of two hangars, oil and gasoline stowage, shops and
storehouses two antiaircraft batteries and 5 coastal guns, was completely
destroyed.

There
was no damage or loss to our attacking forces.

Taroa
Island.

On
this island a new, well-equipped airfield was attacked. Two hangars, all fuel
tanks, and industrial buildings were destroyed.Seven fighter planes and five scout bombers in the air, plus five
fighters and six bombers on the ground were also destroyed.

Our
only loss in this attack was one scout bomber.In addition, a U. S. cruiser sustained a hit from one small bomb.

In
addition, destruction to enemy shore establishments was as follows:

At
Roi-Two hangars, ammunition dumps, fuel stowage, all store

and
warehouses, and the radio building.

At
Wotje-Entire shore installation-two hangars, oil and gas stowage,

shops
and storehouses, two antiaircraft batteries, and five

intermediate
coastal guns.

At
Taroa-Two hangars, all fuel tanks, and industrial buildings.

The
raid of our forces on the Island of Jaluit was conducted in a heavy
rainstorm.Our aircraft attacked two
enemy auxiliary vessels, badly damaging one of them.

At
Makin Island, these forces destroyed two enemy patrol planes and badly damaged
one auxiliary vessel.In addition, one
enemy patrol plane was destroyed at sea.

There
is nothing to report from other areas.

***

CONFIDENTIAL
NOTE TO EDITORS

This
communiqué in no way changes the 12 noon (e. w. t.) Friday, February 13,
release date of the correspondents' stories filed from Honolulu.

No.
40
FEBRUARY 13, 1942

The
Navy Department issued the following communiqué based on additional reports of
the Marshall and Gilbert islands' action of January 31, 1942.

Central
Pacific.

Enemy
losses in the naval raid of January 31, 1942, conducted by ships and planes of
the U. S. Pacific Fleet against Japanese bases in the Marshall and Gilbert
Islands totaled 16 ships and 41 planes.

Our
losses totaled 11 scout bombers which failed to return, 4 from the Islands of
Roi and Kwajalein, 1 from the Island of Taroa, and 6 from the Islands of Jaluit
and Makin.

28

In
carrying out the raids on the several islands Vice Admiral William F. Halsey,
Jr., divided his surface and air forces into self-sustaining units.Timing the arrival of each force at its
destination perfectly, he was able to carry out simultaneous and highly
destructive attacks on each island.

Rear
Admiral Frank J. Fletcher, acting under orders of Admiral Halsey, led the
forces which made the attacks against the Islands of Jaluit and Makin.

Vice
Admiral Halsey has been awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for planning
and conducting these brilliant and audacious attacks on Japanese strongholds
and for driving them home with great skill and determination.

Commander
Miles R. Browning, Chief of Staff to Admiral Halsey, has been recommended for
promotion to captain.

Appropriate
rewards to other officers and men may be expected later when all
recommendations have been received and acted upon.

There
is nothing to report from other areas.

No.
41
FEBRUARY 19, 1942

The
Navy Department issued the following communiqué, outlining the naval situation
as of noon (e. w. t.) February 19, 1942:

Far
East.

A
U. S. submarine has sunk a 5,000-ton cargo ship in the East China Sea.

There
is nothing to report from other areas.

No.
42
FEBRUARY 21, 1942

The
Navy Department issued the following communiqué, outlining the naval situation
as of noon (e. w. t.) February 21, 1942:

Far
East.

Six
U. S. destroyers in company with Dutch warships attacked the Japanese landing
force on the Island of Bali and sank two enemy destroyers.Our destroyers suffered only slight damage
and minor loss of personnel.

In
addition to the naval battalion composed of bluejackets and marines fighting
with General MacArthur's command considerable equipment salvaged from Cavite
and other sources of naval supply has been used to good advantage in the
defense of the Bataan Peninsula.

29

Rear
Admiral Francis W. Rockwell, U. S. Navy, Commandant of the Sixteenth Naval
District, the senior naval officer fighting with GeneralMacArthur, reports that this equipment
consists of 3-inch and 4-inch artillery as well as boat guns and machine guns
of several types, with grenades, aircraft bombs and ammunition.A large number of hand depth charges have
been available.

Stores
of gasoline, Diesel oil and lubricating oil were saved and are being used in
field operations.Motor launches, tugs
and facilities for repair of artillery, tanks, and trucks have been provided in
addition to electrical and ordnance supplies.

Personnel
of the naval air base organization who were previously employed on Government
contracts have constructed and repaired airfields and roads in the fighting
area.Such heavy equipment as steam
shovels tractors, cranes, trucks and graders have been operated by this
organization to useful advantage on Bataan and Corregidor.

There
is nothing to report from other areas.

No.
43
FEBRUARY 23, 1942

The
Navy Department issued the following communiqué, outlining the naval situation
based on reports received up to 8 a. m. (e. w. t.),

February
23, 1942:

Atlantic
Area.

The
Coast Guard Cutter Alexander Hamilton was torpedoed by an enemy
submarine off Iceland.While being
towed into port the ship capsized and had to be sunk by gunfire.

Loss
of personnel which occurred when the ship was torpedoed was moderate.Next of kin of those lost have been
notified.

There
is nothing to report from other areas.

No.
44
FEBRUARY 24, 1942

The
Navy Department issued the following communiqué, outlining the naval situation
based on reports received up to 9:30 a. m. (e. w. t.)

February
24, 1942:

30

Atlantic
Area.

The
U. S. S. Truxtun, a World War destroyer, and the U. S. S. Pollux,
a cargo ship, ran aground in foul weather off the coast of Newfoundland and
were lost.

Due
to the extremely difficult surf caused by the gale raging in the Atlantic and
the bitterness of the winter weather loss of life was heavy on both
vessels.Heroic efforts to swim lines
ashore failed due to the inability to handle them when they became oil soaked.

A
breeches buoy was finally rigged to a ledge at sea level, but some of the
survivors were washed away before they could be gotten to the top of the cliff
that lined the rocky shore.

The
Truxtun broke up almost immediately after grounding and soon thereafter
the Pollux did likewise.

The
survivors owe their rescue in large measure to the tireless, efficient and in
many cases heroic action of the people of St. Lawrence, Newfoundland.

The
next of kin of those lost in this tragic drama of the sea have been notified.

There
is nothing to report from other areas.

No.
45
FEBRUARY 25, 1942

Far
East.

The
Secretary of the Navy issued the following communiqué, summarizing previously
published losses inflicted by U. S. naval forces upon the Japanese Navy and
Merchant Marine in the period from December 10, 1941 until February 24, 1942,
inclusive.The following information is
compiled from Navy Department Communiqués beginning with No. 1 and ending with
No. 44, and complements similar information summarizing enemy losses and damage
published in recent communiqués of the United States Army.

In
accordance with its previously announced policy, the Navy does not indulge in
the practice of overstating the losses that we inflict upon the enemy, or of
understating the losses inflicted on us.The Navy will report only such facts as can be substantiated.Thus the tabulation of vessels damaged does
not include many enemy ships thought to have been damaged, lack of conclusive
evidence precluding specific announcements in these instances.

31

Submarines
known to be sunk include only those sunk during the heroic defense of Wake
Island and during the recent raid on the Marshall and Gilbert Islands.In accordance with the established Navy
Department policy submarine sinkings are never announced until it is reasonably
certain that the enemy has become cognizant of their loss.This explains the time lag in connection
with various reports.There is
evidence, however, of further sinkings of enemy submarines in Pacific waters,
but their announcement will not be made public until full reports have been
made to the Navy Department and absolute surety is determined.

Prior
to the vicious attack made on the United Nations by the Japanese Empire on
December 7, 1941, the pride of the Japanese Merchant Marine consisted of three
17,000-ton luxury ships of the Yawata
class.One of these ships is known to
have been converted to serve as an aircraft carrier.The United States naval forces have sunk one merchantman of the Yawata class, and one aircraft carrier
of the same class, leaving only one such vessel known to be in service with the
enemy.

During
January 1942, 22 ships of the United Nations registry had torpedoes fired at
them in waters contiguous to the United States. In

32

addition
38 other ships were attacked in the area west of 30° west longitude.One enemy submarine is believed to have been
sunk, 3 are believed to have been damaged and 34 additional attacks were
inconclusive in evidence of damage.

In
February, up to and including the 23d instant, 23 ships of the United Nations
have been attacked by enemy submarines in U. S. coastal waters and 31
additional ships in the area west of 30° west longitude.Two enemy submarines are believed to have
been sunk and 1 damaged in these areas.In addition, 15 attacks have been made on enemy submarines by our forces
with inconclusive results.

There
is nothing to report from other areas.

No.
46
February 27, 1942

The
Navy Department issued the following communiqué outlining the naval situation
based on reports received up to noon (e. w. t.) February 27, 1942.

Far
East.

The
following submarine commanders have been awarded the Navy Cross in recognition
of their especially meritorious conduct during actions with the enemy:

Lt.
Comdr. C. C. Smith, U. S. N.

Lt.
Comdr. K. C. Hurd, U. S. N.

Lt.
Comdr. W. L. Wright, U. S. N.

Lt.
Comdr. M. C. Mumma, Jr., U. S. N.

Lt.
Comdr. E. B. McKinney, U. S. N.

Lt.
J. C. Dempsey, U. S. N.

Lt.
W. G. Chapple, U. S. N.

Citations
are not yet available as the above awards were made in the sphere of action by
the Commander of United States Naval Forces, Southwest Pacific, Vice Admiral
William A. Glassford, Jr., U. S. Navy.

There
is nothing to report from other areas.

No.
47
FEBRUARY 28, 1942

The
Navy Department issued the following communiqué:

The
Secretary of the Navy announced today the acceptance, effective March 1, 1942,
of the application for retirement of Rear Admiral H. E.

33

Kimmel,
U. S. N., "without condonation of any offense or prejudice to any future
disciplinary action."

The
Secretary of the Navy announced at the same time that, based upon the findings
of the report of the Roberts Commission he had directed the preparation of
charges for the trial by court-martial of Rear Admiral Kimmel, alleging
dereliction of duty.The Secretary of
the Navy made it clear, however, that the trial upon these charges would not be
held until such time as the public interest and safety would permit.

No.
48
FEBRUARY 28, 1942

The
Navy Department issued the following communiqué, outlining the Naval situation
based on reports received up to 4 p. m. (e. w. t.), February 28, 1942:

Far
East.

On
February 27 a major action occurred in which combined Dutch, British,
Australian, and United States naval forces engaged a much larger enemy force of
combatant vessels covering 40 transports attempting a landing on the north
coast of Java.

From
fragmentary reports received in the Navy Department American naval forces
participating in this action consisted of one heavy cruiser and five
destroyers.

A
landing on Java by the enemy was not effected.

The
Japanese heavy cruiser Mogami and three enemy destroyers were put out of
action in the attempt.When last seen,
enemy transports were retiring to the northward.

None
of our vessels suffered heavy damage in the initial phase of this battle for
Java, and our forces are still intact despite the overwhelming superiority in
numbers of the enemy naval forces.

Further
action can be expected from this area.

Reports
from U. S. submarines operating in the Far East are as follows:

On
February 23 two torpedo hits were effected on one large ship of the enemy.

On
February 24 two torpedo hits were effected on one large enemy auxiliary vessel.

On
February 25 one torpedo hit was effected on an enemy transport and one torpedo
hit on a type unknown.

34

In
addition, date unknown, one of our submarines registered a torpedo hit on an
enemy transport.